071 – Working With System Engineers
System Engineer is one of the most critical audio positions in large-scale productions.
Written by Scott Adamson
To work as a system engineer, one must be a keen problem solver and have a strong foundation in acoustics, electronics and audio interconnectivity. This person is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, efficient and well-balanced sound system, in turn giving FOH and monitor engineers the foundation they need to build the best mixes possible.
They perform a host of duties, which include:
Running prediction software for the specific venue ahead of time
Understanding where PA can be flown or stacked in each venue
Planning and executing deployment of the entire system
Testing the system once it’s deployed
Managing the system during the performance
From load in to load out, they play a critically important role in the success of a concert.
In this chat, mix engineers Vincent Casamatta (Maroon 5) and Jay Rigby (Queens of the Stone Age) discuss working with their crews’ system engineers and how it impacts their job at FOH.
Vincent notes that working with a trustworthy, communicative and highly knowledgeable individual is paramount to the success of the mix. He prefers to rely on their expertise and focus on his own role.
Jay once spent a lot of time with SMAART, time aligning and tuning the room before passing those responsibilities onto a full-time system engineer, but he still likes to have the last say with reference mixes and a final EQ.
Whichever way you prefer to work, remember that good communication between FOH and systems engineers lends itself to a successful show.
